Military Casualty Assistance Courses | Military OneSource

Overview

The courses below provide a comprehensive look at the survivor benefits, support services and planning resources available to military families, surviving family members, service members and providers. Topics include the Casualty Assistance program, investigations following the loss of a loved one and the importance of keeping documents — such as the DD Form 93 — up to date to ensure benefits, including the death gratuity, reach designated survivors.

You’ll also find guidance on navigating grief after a death by suicide, staying connected to support networks and understanding military funeral honors and recognition programs. These courses also cover tools such as the online survivor benefits report to support informed financial decisions, as well as resources for end-of-life planning.

Review the course descriptions below and start learning today more about the courses in the following descriptions and start taking them today.

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These courses support the mind and family areas of your MilLife.

Casualty assistance officer meeting with family

Casualty Assistance Program

The War Department strives to ensure that military families have support in their time of need. This e-tutorial provides an overview of the Casualty Assistance program and the services available to eligible beneficiaries.

Length: 9 minutes

investigation

Surviving Family Members: Investigations Involving the Death of a Loved One

View this e-tutorial for general information about investigations that may occur after accidents or incidents that involve the death of a loved one, as well as the information provided to the primary next of kin upon request.

Length: 10 minutes

Service member hugging children

Completing the DD Form 93

Learn the importance of keeping your DD Form 93 updated and what it means to you and your loved ones should you die or become incapacitated. This course explains the death gratuity benefit, a one-time, nontaxable payment of $100,000 provided by the War Department to help surviving family members deal with the financial hardships that often accompany the death of a service member, before the survivor benefits are provided.

Length: 7 minutes

mom holds child looking out window

After a Suicide

In the aftermath of a death by suicide, individuals may experience a wide range of complex emotions and challenges. This course provides compassionate support and guidance for those affected by a death by suicide. It covers communication techniques, ways to connect to or stay connected to a support system and reminders for how to maintain your physical and mental health during such a difficult time.

Length: 45 minutes

Woman speaking to service member

After a Suicide — Walking Through Providing Support

Did you know that as many as 135 individuals can be impacted by a single suicide? The effects of death extend far beyond the immediate loss. Survivors, including fellow service members, are deeply affected, as are the service providers and military leaders who support them. This course helps service providers and military leaders gain a greater awareness of the complex nature of a death by suicide, establish a rapport with survivors and gain practical tools to help mitigate the profound effects of a death by suicide.

Length: 2 hours

woman uses laptop

Online Survivor Benefits Report

The online survivor benefits report is an interactive financial planning tool that assists eligible survivors. It can help you make sound decisions by estimating how time and circumstances can affect your monthly and annual income.

Length: 6 minutes

receives gold star pin

Recognizing Military Service

Have you ever seen a service flag or lapel button with a gold star and wondered what it meant? In this course, you will review the history behind the creation of the service flag and the Gold Star Lapel Button. This course also presents who is eligible to display the service flag and may receive and wear the Gold Star Lapel Button or the Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel Lapel Button.

Length: 7 minutes

Service members carry casket during funeral service

Military Funeral Honors

Providing military funeral honors is the nation’s way of showing gratitude and paying final tribute to a veteran’s honorable military service. Use this e-tutorial to better understand the Military Funeral Honors program and eligibility.

Length: 6 minutes

cao training

Survivor Support: Benefits, Resources and Best Practices

Serving as a Casualty Assistance Officer is one of the most critical responsibilities a service member may assume. This eLearning course equips participants with the knowledge, resources, and best practices needed to confidently support surviving family members with professionalism, compassion and care throughout the casualty assistance process.

Length: 40 minutes

woman holds paperwork

Making Your Final Wishes Known

Are you prepared for end-of-life? Death is inevitable and cannot be avoided no matter your walk of life. Take this course to understand the impact of making your final wishes known, the misconceptions regarding this process and the terms often associated with estate planning. Making your final wishes known may feel daunting and that’s OK. This course will help you get started.

Length: 45 minutes

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